Elementary school teacher arrested

LOS CHAVEZ (AP) - A fourth-grade teacher in this small Valencia County community has been placed on leave after being arrested on marijuana-related charges.

Debbie Arundale of Los Lunas was arrested and booked Tuesday on suspicion of distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, said Los Lunas Police Detective Joe Griego.

Arundale had no comment when reached by telephone.

Police seized about 7 ounces of packaged marijuana along with pipes, paper and a scale after going to her home Tuesday to serve a search warrant for her 17-year-old daughter, Griego said. He said the daughter was a suspect in an unrelated burglary. The teen has not been arrested or charged.

When Arundale let officers in, Griego said he detected a strong odor of burned marijuana. He said Arundale denied it was marijuana, but Griego gave her the option of consenting to a search or awaiting a search warrant. He said she consented to a search.

Officers found marijuana in a safe in the woman's bedroom, Griego said. Arundale admitted the marijuana belonged to her, he said.

Belen schools Superintendent Marie Garcia-Shaffner said Arundale, an elementary school teacher at Dennis Chavez Elementary in Los Chavez since 1991, was placed on leave. School officials were investigating, she said.